The Taiwan government has made a major change in the leadership of the National Security Council (NSC), with National Defense Minister Yim Teck-Fat moving to an advisory position to the NSC, and the new National Defense Minister being replaced by NSC Director Chiu Kuo-Cheng.
In addition, the position of NSC Director General is filled by Taiwan’s Land Commission Director Chen Ming-Tong. Former Minister of Justice Chiu Tai-san took over the helm of the ROC.
Taiwan’s presidential spokesman Chang Chun-han said at a press conference Friday that the top job changes in the Taiwan government’s national security team were made in response to regional and international situations and global political and economic changes. President Tsai Ing-wen has given in-depth thought to this major personnel change and has consulted all sectors.
The “Three Iron Triangles” will help implement national defense reform and strengthen the national military’s combat capabilities, continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with like-minded countries, and continue to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the region, said Chun-Han Chang.
The so-called “three iron triangles” refer to the iron triangle of diplomacy consisting of Secretary General of the Presidential Office David Lee, Foreign Minister Wu Chiu-sup and Representative to the United States Hsiao Mei-chin; the iron triangle of cross-strait affairs consisting of Chen Ming-tong, Chiu Tai-san and SEF Vice Chairman Zhan Chi-hung; and the iron triangle of national defense and security consisting of Yan Deifa, Chiu Kuo-ching and Chief of Staff Huang Shu-guang.
According to the Taiwanese media, Qiu Guozheng comes from the Army and has been trusted by the top brass for his rigorous military governance. He graduated from the Army Military Academy and served as the Undersecretary of the Operations and Plans Staff Office, the commander of the Army’s Sixth Corps, the commander of the Reserve Command, the president of the National Defense University and the deputy director of the Ministry of National Defense’s Armaments Department, the chief of staff and the director of national security. He was also the first ROC officer to be inducted into the American War College Hall of Fame.
During his tenure as Director of National Security, Qiu was instrumental in promoting strategic communications and security efforts between Taiwan and the United States, laying the foundation for future cooperation in Taiwan-U.S. defense affairs.
In addition, Chiu has experience in the United States and specializes in intelligence work. DPP legislator Luo Chi-Cheng believes that Qiu’s role as defense minister will play a positive role in improving defense intelligence work.
According to the Central News Agency, although Yan Deifa stepped down from his post, he was the longest-serving defense minister in Tsai’s administration. In the last three years, Yen has made many achievements in the localization of submarines and high-training aircraft, and has received high-level recognition in promoting close military cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. His move to the National Security Advisory Council is a live chess piece for Tsai’s cabinet.
After Tsai’s election as Taiwan’s president, Taiwan’s relations with China have deteriorated significantly, especially in the last two years, as U.S.-Taiwan relations have become further close and China’s military and political pressure on Taiwan has increased substantially, with unprecedented movements of PLA military aircraft and warships harassing Taiwan.
Just as Taiwan announced a major reshuffle in its national security leadership, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense sources said that four Chinese J-16, four Boom-7 and one Yun-9 communications countermeasures aircraft infested Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Feb. 19.
In response to tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Tsai Ing-wen’s administration has formulated a military reform plan centered on “asymmetric warfare” to comprehensively upgrade the high-tech level of Taiwan’s weaponry and military capabilities to resist invasion by the PLA.
Taiwan’s presidential spokesman Chang Chun-han said that Tsai’s appointment of Qiu Guozheng as defense minister is to enable him to complete the next phase of military reform and prepare the Taiwanese military for unexpected events.
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